Chapter 10

Ten

MAVERICK

It's two days after Thanksgiving, and I'm still stuffed as I pull up to the curb in front of Jay and Nina's house, turn off the engine in my truck, and let out a breath. There're a lot of cars here, and that is out of the ordinary for them. Friendsgiving seems to have grown this year. I get out, grabbing the case of beer and taking note of the small section of lights out on his rooftop. I follow the walk to the front door, but before I can knock, Maria answers.

"Well hello, handsome. We've been waiting for you." She gives me a sly look, and I wonder what's going on.

"I should have known Nina was inviting the world." I roll my eyes. "I already told Jay, there's no making boyfriends today. I want to enjoy some good food and try to enjoy the company."

"Don't play coy. I know you already enjoy the company." She ushers me inside, and the noise of everyone talking at once is loud. She's whispering, so I lean in close to hear her. "It's time to shine, Maverick. You're going to use all the tools you were taught today."

"Now why would I do that?"

"You want to show it works right?"

"I want to show it doesn't work."

"So overplay it. I know you're an over-the-top guy. Let's see you pull out all the stops."

I pull away and glance around the room, finding Ava's eyes on me instantly. She holds my stare for a moment before turning her back on me. I wish I could clarify the emotion behind those eyes.

"She doesn't want to like you," Maria tells me.

"It's clear she doesn't."

"Oh, Maverick. I thought you were smarter than that."

She turns her back, and I follow her into the kitchen, where I find Jay and Wes. I hand over the case of beer I brought and greet them both. "Happy Thanksgiving, man. By the way, you've got lights out around your roof. Don't be that guy. Get 'em fixed."

Jay groans. "Those fucking lights. When will companies learn to make a strand that doesn't go out when one goes out?"

Wes whispers in my ear, "Wait until you see what I'm doing to his yard tomorrow." He guffaws and backs away quickly when Jay takes a jab at him.

"What are you telling him?" Jay questions him.

Wes laughs. "You want to know whaaat I'm telling him?"

I look back and forth between these two idiots. "What the fuck is going on here?"

"I asked if he wanted to know what. WATT. Get it? You need watts to run lights," Wes replies, pleased with his ridiculous joke.

"We work HVAC, not electrical," I reply blandly.

"Tell me what you think you're doing to my yard tomorrow, and I may let you stay to eat today," Jay says.

"Ever put lights on a palm tree?" Wes crosses his arms across his chest with a satisfied grin on his face.

"Can't say I have."

"Google it. It's going to be fucking classic!" Wes is so excited that I have to do it right now and see what the heck he's talking about. Pulling up a picture of a palm tree with lights on it, I bark out a laugh and Jay cuts us both a look.

Sliding the phone back into my pocket, I nudge Wes. "Your dad jokes are ridiculous."

His face takes on a whole different look immediately. He grabs a beer and heads back into the living room.

Shaking my head at the lunacy surrounding me, I ask Jay, "How was your first married turkey day?"

Jay laughs. "We're not married yet."

"Might as well be."

"Jealous, Mav?" Nina hip checks me before throwing her arms around me. "I'm glad you're here."

She's got a sparkle in her eye, and I take the opportunity that's presented to me. I bend and grab her around the waist, spinning her around in the kitchen. She squeals and laughs, yelling at me to put her down.

"Jay! Take notes! I learned this in class. Always make sure the people in the room know who she belongs to."

"That ring lets people know who she belongs to," Jay snipes out.

"I have no ring to give, so I need to make sure I stake my claim elsewhere." Maria chooses that moment to walk by me, and I quickly steady Nina on her feet and grab Maria into a fireman's hold.

"Maverick!" she yells out while slapping at my ass. "Put me down!"

"I think this is called the caveman move. See pretty girl. Grab her and run." I dart to the slider doors that take me to the back deck and open them, bringing us outside.

Maria is laughing as I place her back on her feet. "You're ridiculous, but I'm liking this side of you."

"My ass?" I shake my hips, and she slaps at my arm.

"No, the silly side. "

"I'm always on the silly side. Isn't that why she's trying to make me into something else?"

"Is that what you think is happening?" she asks quietly.

"It's clear that's what this class is about."

She tsks me. "No, the class is about building confidence. Making the men aware of what women want and just refining their ways. Not remaking them."

"Her class is literally called Making the Book Boyfriend."

"Okay, okay, she wants to make one, but she doesn't want a fake one."

"It makes no sense."

"It does make sense, Mav, if you'd just take a look for a minute." She leans in close to me even though we're the only two out here. "I told you she's been burned. What's worse than cheating? Indifference. If she had a relationship that failed for a direct reason, I think she'd be able to come to a better understanding because of it. But because it just slowly fizzled out despite having a bit of chemistry to begin with, she's left feeling like she's not important, she's not exciting, and she's not sexy. You and I both know that isn't true."

"She's sexy as fuck, but that goody-two-shoes act kills the mood."

"She's had to be in charge of everything when she should have been able to rely on someone to carry half of the burden with her. But she is sexy and daring, and her sarcasm turns you on."

I watch her, knowing she has a point. "I do like when she talks back to me." I grin.

"So what's the issue? Go for it."

"Maria, she doesn't want me. I'm a blue-collar guy with no advancement potential. I'm happy in my hometown, working for my best friend. Best I can do is promise to never cheat and always keep her guessing with surprises. Girls like her don't want that."

"How can you say that?" Her eyes are wide as she throws her hands out to the side.

"I saw the way her eyes lit up as the two guys in the class talked about their amazing jobs. That's not me. I'm simple. I want to find a good girl to love and keep satisfied. That's all."

"And that's just what my cousin needs. She went through years waiting for Zach to open up, to take charge, to be a man. I'm just glad she wised up before she wasted more time."

I shrug off hearing his name. I don't like it one bit. "I don't know what you want me to do. If she doesn't want to give me the time of day, it's not worth the trouble to try and make her see otherwise. I can spend all the time I want saying her class doesn't work, but for what? There's always going to be someone who thinks it does, so who cares what I say?"

"She cares. And I care more. You're the excitement she's been missing, Mav. Give her a chance."

She pats me on the back and enters the house again. I stand on the deck inhaling the cool air, wondering if this is what I want. Sure, she caught my attention. And sure, having a second chance out of nowhere means a little bit more when fate plays into it. But is it real, or is she just trying to make me into something I'm not, something that fits her mold?

As I run through every reason to just keep giving her a hard time, I realize her mold needs to be reshaped. If indifference is what she felt, I want to show her excitement. I want to make her feel . I know how it is to get lost in the crowd. Maybe I can create a little chaos for her to react to, a bit of playfulness to pull her from her stoicism and show her the fun she's been missing out on. Maybe it's time for me to do a little remaking of the author.